Amid pushback from the gambling industry, a Louisiana lawmaker has deferred his bill to increase the sales tax on online sports betting from 15% to 51%.
House Bill 22 by Rep. Roger Wilder, R-Denham Springs, would have increased state revenue $151 million, according to an analysis of the bill by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office. The proposal would have helped offset the loss of revenue resulting from flattening the state income tax.
The bill, which was part of Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax code overhaul package, had bipartisan support but was deferred at Wilder’s request at Wednesday’s hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee. Wilder said he would continue to work on the proposal, but it is unlikely to come up again in the current special session that must end by Nov. 25.
